diff --git a/bot/include/persist.h b/bot/include/persist.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7807871
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot/include/persist.h
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#ifndef LAIKA_PERSIST_H
+#define LAIKA_PERSIST_H
+
+#include <stdbool.h>
+
+/* check if laika is already running */
+bool laikaB_checkRunning(void);
+
+/* check if laika is already installed on current machine */
+bool laikaB_checkPersist(void);
+
+/* check if laika is running as super-user */
+bool laikaB_checkRoot(void);
+
+/* mark that laika is currently running */
+void laikaB_markRunning(void);
+
+/* unmark that laika is currently running */
+void laikaB_unmarkRunning(void);
+
+/* try to gain persistance on machine */
+void laikaB_tryPersist(void);
+
+/* try to gain root */
+void laikaB_tryRoot(void);
+
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/bot/lin/linpersist.c b/bot/lin/linpersist.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..381594b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot/lin/linpersist.c
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/* platform specific code for achieving persistence on linux */
+
+/* this is only used to check if another instance of laika is currently running */
+#define LAIKA_RESERVED_PORT 32876
+
+#include "persist.h"
+#include "lsocket.h"
+#include "lerror.h"
+
+static struct sLaika_socket laikaB_markerPort;
+
+/* check if laika is already running */
+bool laikaB_checkRunning() {
+    return true; /* stubbed for now */
+}
+
+/* check if laika is already installed on current machine */
+bool laikaB_checkPersist() {
+    return true; /* stubbed for now */
+}
+
+/* check if laika is running as super-user */
+bool laikaB_checkRoot() {
+    return true; /* stubbed for now */
+}
+
+/* mark that laika is currently running */
+void laikaB_markRunning() {
+#ifndef DEBUG
+    LAIKA_TRY
+        laikaS_initSocket(&laikaB_markerPort, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+        laikaS_bind(&laikaB_markerPort, LAIKA_RESERVED_PORT);
+    LAIKA_CATCH
+        LAIKA_DEBUG("Failed to bind marker port, laika is already running!\n");
+        exit(0);
+    LAIKA_TRYEND
+#endif
+}
+
+/* unmark that laika is currently running */
+void laikaB_unmarkRunning() {
+#ifndef DEBUG
+    laikaS_kill(&laikaB_markerPort);
+#endif
+}
+
+/* try to gain persistance on machine */
+void laikaB_tryPersist() {
+    /* stubbed */
+}
+
+/* try to gain root */
+void laikaB_tryRoot() {
+    /* stubbed */
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/bot/win/winpersist.c b/bot/win/winpersist.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c619788
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot/win/winpersist.c
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/* platform specific code for achieving persistence on windows */
+
+#include "persist.h"
+
+/* check if laika is already running */
+bool laikaB_checkRunning() {
+    return true; /* stubbed for now */
+}
+
+/* check if laika is already installed on current machine */
+bool laikaB_checkPersist() {
+    return true; /* stubbed for now */
+}
+
+/* check if laika is running as super-user */
+bool laikaB_checkRoot() {
+    return true; /* stubbed for now */
+}
+
+/* mark that laika is currently running */
+void laikaB_markRunning() {
+    /* stubbed */
+}
+
+/* unmark that laika is currently running */
+void laikaB_unmarkRunning() {
+    /* stubbed */
+}
+
+/* try to gain persistance on machine */
+void laikaB_tryPersist() {
+    /* stubbed */
+}
+
+/* try to gain root */
+void laikaB_tryRoot() {
+    /* stubbed */
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/include/lbox.h b/lib/include/lbox.h
index 1cc5ede..940d2c1 100644
--- a/lib/include/lbox.h
+++ b/lib/include/lbox.h
@@ -16,24 +16,18 @@
     dumping.
 */
 
-enum {
-    BOX_IP,
-    BOX_PUBKEY,
-    BOX_MAX
-};
-
 struct sLaikaB_box {
     uint8_t *data;
     uint8_t *unlockedData;
     struct sLaikaV_vm vm;
 };
 
-inline void laikaB_unlock() {
+inline void laikaB_unlock(struct sLaikaB_box *box) {
 
 }
 
 /* safely free's allocated buffer using libsodium's api for clearing sensitive data from memory */
-inline void laikaB_lock() {
+inline void laikaB_lock(struct sLaikaB_box *box) {
 
 }